Blowout preventer ram automatic locking system

Abstract

A blowout preventer ram automatic locking apparatus for use in a ram-type blowout preventer used in oil and gas drilling operations is disclosed. The blowout preventer has a body with an axial bore, a pair of opposing bonnet assemblies and a pair of opposing rams laterally moveable within the bonnet assemblies by a pressurized fluid source to control flow of well fluids through the blowout preventer body axial bore. The blowout preventer ram automatic locking apparatus includes a bonnet header sealingly connected to the side of the blowout preventer body with an operating cylinder sealingly connected to the bonnet header. An operating piston is connected to the ram and moves axially within the operating cylinder in response to pressurized fluid supplied through porting in the bonnet header and end cap. A plurality of locking pistons are circumferentially spaced about the operating piston in locking piston chambers and are axially moveable in response to fluid pressure. The locking pistons include an axially tapered cylindrically shaped surface on one end. A bonnet cap is sealingly connected to the operating cylinder and bonnet header and includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced axially tapered cylindrically shaped surfaces. An end cap sealingly engages the bonnet cap. The locking piston chambers each include a radially disposed window that receives a locking segment in radially sliding engagement. The locking segments have acutely angled interior and exterior axially tapered cylindrically shaped faces to cooperate with the locking pistons and bonnet cap acutely angled axially tapered cylindrically shaped surfaces. The locking segments are moved radially in response to fluid pressure applied to the locking pistons. Movement of the locking segments radially outward to a locked position maintains the operating piston and ram in a closed position.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A blowout preventer ram actuating and locking apparatus for a blowout preventer used in oil and gas drilling operations, the blowout preventer having a body with an axial bore, a pair of opposing bonnet assemblies and a pair of opposing rams laterally moveable within the bonnet assemblies by a pressurized fluid source to control flow of well fluids through the blowout preventer body axial bore, said blowout preventer ram actuating and locking apparatus, comprising: a bonnet header sealingly engaging said blowout preventer body;   an operating cylinder sealingly connected to said bonnet header;   a bonnet cap sealingly connected to said operating cylinder and said bonnet header;   an end cap sealingly engaging said bonnet cap;   an operating piston connected to said ram and axially moveable within said operating cylinder by said pressurized fluid source;   a plurality of locking pistons sealingly engaging said operating piston and circumferentially spaced about said operating piston;   a plurality of locking segments cooperating with said locking pistons and said bonnet cap to maintain said operating piston and said ram in a closed position;   a ram unlock fluid passage within said bonnet header for directing said pressurized fluid source to move said operating piston and said ram to an open position; and,   a ram lock fluid passage within said end cap for directing said pressurized fluid source to move said operating piston and said ram to a closed position.   
     
     
       2. A blowout preventer ram actuating and locking apparatus for a blowout preventer used in oil and gas drilling operations according to claim 1, wherein: said operating piston includes a plurality of locking piston chambers circumferentially spaced about said operating piston, said locking pistons disposed within said locking piston chambers and axially moveable within said locking piston chambers by said pressurized fluid source.   
     
     
       3. A blowout preventer ram actuating and locking apparatus for a blowout preventer used in oil and gas drilling operations according to claim 2, wherein: said locking piston chambers each include a radially disposed slot,   said locking piston chamber slots receiving said locking segments in radially sliding engagement, and   said locking segments radially moveable in response to fluid pressure applied to said ram lock and said ram unlock fluid passages.   
     
     
       4. A blowout preventer ram actuating and locking apparatus for a blowout preventer used in oil and gas drilling operations according to claim 3, wherein: said bonnet cap includes a plurality of arcuate shaped guide channels to maintain alignment of said guide segments with said locking pistons.   
     
     
       5. A blowout preventer ram actuating and locking apparatus for a blowout preventer used in oil and gas drilling operations according to claim 4, wherein: said bonnet cap further includes a plurality of axially tapered cylindrically shaped guide channels, said axially tapered cylindrically shaped guide channels axially aligned with said arcuate shaped guide channels.   
     
     
       6. A blowout preventer ram actuating and locking apparatus for a blowout preventer used in oil and gas drilling operations according to claim 5, wherein: said bonnet cap axially tapered cylindrically shaped guide channels axial taper is a locking taper.   
     
     
       7. A blowout preventer ram actuating and locking apparatus for a blowout preventer used in oil and gas drilling operations according to claim 6, wherein: said locking segments inner and outer faces are axially tapered cylindrically shaped with a locking taper axial taper.   
     
     
       8. A blowout preventer ram actuating and locking apparatus for a blowout preventer used in oil and gas drilling operations according to claim 7, wherein: said locking segments inner and outer faces are axially tapered cylindrically shaped with a locking taper axial taper.   
     
     
       9. A blowout preventer ram actuating and locking apparatus for a blowout preventer used in oil and gas drilling operations according to claim 8, wherein: said locking pistons include an axially tapered cylindrically shaped surface with a locking taper axial taper, and   said locking pistons locking taper axially tapered cylindrically shaped surfaces cooperate with said locking segments inner and outer faces locking taper axially tapered cylindrically shaped surfaces and said bonnet cap guide channels locking taper axially tapered cylindrically shaped surface to maintain said rams in a locked position without pressurized fluid.   
     
     
       10. A blowout preventer ram actuating and automatic locking apparatus for controlling the opening and closing of rams in a blowout preventer, said blowout preventer ram actuating and automatic locking apparatus, comprising: a bonnet header sealingly engaging said blowout preventer;   an operating cylinder sealingly connected to said bonnet header;   a bonnet cap sealingly connected to said operating cylinder and said bonnet header;   an end cap sealingly engaging said bonnet cap;   an operating piston secured to said ram and axially moveable within said operating cylinder in response to fluid pressure;   said operating piston including a plurality of locking piston chambers circumferentially spaced about said operating piston;   a locking piston disposed within each of said locking piston chambers and axially moveable within said locking piston chambers in response to fluid pressure; and,   a plurality of locking segments cooperating with said locking pistons and said bonnet cap to maintain said operating piston and said ram in a closed position.   
     
     
       11. A blowout preventer ram actuating and automatic locking apparatus according to claim 10, wherein: said bonnet header includes a fluid passage for directing said fluid pressure to move said operating piston and said ram to an open position; and,   said end cap includes a fluid passage for directing said fluid pressure to move said operating piston and said ram to a closed position.   
     
     
       12. A blowout preventer ram actuating and automatic locking apparatus according to claim 11, wherein: said locking piston chambers each include a radially disposed slot,   said locking piston chamber slots receiving said locking segments in radially sliding engagement, and   said locking segments radially moveable in response to fluid pressure applied to said ram open and said ram close fluid passages.   
     
     
       13. A blowout preventer ram actuating and automatic locking apparatus according to claim 12, wherein: said bonnet cap includes a plurality of arcuate shaped guide channels to maintain alignment of said guide segments with said locking pistons.   
     
     
       14. A blowout preventer ram actuating and automatic locking apparatus according to claim 13, wherein: said bonnet cap further includes a plurality of axially tapered cylindrically shaped guide channels, said axially tapered cylindrically shaped guide channels axially aligned with said arcuate shaped guide channels.   
     
     
       15. A blowout preventer ram actuating and automatic locking apparatus according to claim 14, wherein: said bonnet cap axially tapered cylindrically shaped guide channels axial taper is a locking taper.   
     
     
       16. A blowout preventer ram actuating and automatic locking apparatus according to claim 15, wherein: said locking segments inner and outer faces are axially tapered cylindrically shaped with a locking taper axial taper.   
     
     
       17. A blowout preventer ram actuating and automatic locking apparatus according to claim 16, wherein: said locking segments inner and outer faces are axially tapered cylindrically shaped with a locking taper axial taper.   
     
     
       18. A blowout preventer ram actuating and automatic locking apparatus according to claim 17, wherein: said locking pistons include an axially tapered cylindrically shaped surface with a locking taper axial taper, and   said locking pistons locking taper axially tapered cylindrically shaped surface cooperate with said locking segments inner and outer faces locking taper axially tapered cylindrically shaped surfaces and said bonnet cap guide channels locking taper axially tapered cylindrically shaped surface to maintain said rams in a locked position without fluid pressure.